day twenty seven: comings and goings

i want you all to know before i begin, this keyboard is very sticky. and its making it hard to type. so please, if you would, in your heart of hearts, feel sorry for me, in this trying circumstance : )

in other news, tyler left yesterday morning. ronnie and i accompanied him to entebbe at six in the morning, and i think he just left london today. what a terrible layover. however, his absence means i am now living exclusively with ugandans. im sure this will be good. i am appreciating the fact that i now have to rely on locals for all relationship and community. i know that this will be good for me, focing me furthur into intimacy with friends here.

im glad to no longer have a crutch, that now i will have to seek out opportunities and people to serve with and whom to serve. and though it will be harder, it will be better. ill miss tyler a good deal, and i greatly appreciated the time we spent here. but im also learning to appreciate trials and hard times as gifts from God to grow me and make me who He needs me to be.

on saturday night, tyler, ronnie, and i made our way to the streets of kampala looking for street kids. after passing these kids in town day in and day out, it just isnt enough to toss them a spare shilling note or buy a meal for an anonymous face. we wanted to spend some time with them, hearing their stories, learning from them, sharing a meal together. we believe that it is through small acts of kindness such as this, the willingness to share your life, that the love of Christ is shown. its something that theyve done before, and i have interest in. on top of that, tyler wanted to go before he left uganda and see some of the friends he had made. we walked around for a few hours, visiting the spots that they had been successful before, but without luck.

soon, ill be going back with ronnie. pray that we can meet some kids and be Christ to them.

a year or so ago, on a previous such trip, tyler and ronnie met a boy named charles. charles was living on the street after having been kicked out of a childrens home because he has relatives, even though they cant afford to take care of him- which is why he was on the street to begin with. he has had a very hard life that i may get into in another post. suffice to say that he's lived on the streets, begging, been abused by an older man, lost his parents, and been abandoned by a kids home-the very people who are supposed to help kids like him.

anyway, tyler and ronnie met him, and he wouldnt leave their side. he stayed with them the whole night, and they listened to his story. they were drawn to him, and continued to see him here and there. although they werent able to do much for him that first night, eventually, through a lot of difficulties, tyler now is able to sponsor him, and he attends one of the best boarding schools in kampala. we visited him on sunday for parent teacher conferances(three guys in their twenties, two from america, were his "parents"). he's doing really well in school, working hard. we got a chance to hear from his teacher, and after, we took him out to lunch. it was awesome seeing his smiling face, hearing that story of hope, and seeing that change can happen.

i believe it is when we are connected to people through relationships and an open heart, that true change can occure. this is just one of the many stories ive heard and witnessed since ive been here. these are the kind of connections im here to make. this is how we can be the hands and feet, the body and blood of Christ.

ill be going out into the bush tomorrow, visiting the village and family of a friend, julius. ill be out there for a few days to a week, depending. this will be my first trip into the bush- what we usually think of when we think africa. im excited. ill update when i can.

i covet your prayers.

all my love
jon